ACHL Division 4

Ciceam Ard Eoin 7-22 Latharna Óg 0-05

Report & Pics: Brian McKee

For the second time in four years, Ciceam Ard Eoin are Division 4 Hurling champions. On Saturday afternoon, the men in black and white delivered a flawless, high-intensity master class to completely overwhelm Larne. Having been denied promotion four years ago due to a league restructuring, this victory carried an extra layer of sweet redemption. Ardoyne can now rightfully relish the well-deserved challenge of playing Division 3 hurling next season.

Ardoyne executed their high-intensity game plan from the opening whistle, dominating every sector of the pitch. The match opened with a family affair as Micheál McGreevy delivered a pinpoint pass to his brother, Padraig, who accurately sent over the opening score of the day. Moments later, Paddy Heaney showed immense aerial prowess by catching a puck-out clean from the sky and splitting the posts. Ardoyne’s relentless pressure continued when the inspirational Cormac Barnes smartly flicked the sliothar into the path of Micheál McGreevy, who duly converted his own opening point.

Larne briefly halted the onslaught when Ryan O’Donnell converted a free to get his side on the scoreboard, but this only served to open the floodgates. Dan Moore fired over his first point of the afternoon, closely followed by a spectacular midfield effort from Dean Goodall. Padraig McGreevy then extended the lead further by punishing a Larne infraction with a well-taken free.

The gap could have widened even sooner if not for the heroics of Kerr in the Larne net. The in-form goalkeeper single-handedly kept his side afloat, thwarting multiple goal attempts—including a dramatic solo effort from Paschal Clarke, who had stormed out of the backline to briefly reinvent himself as a forward. Despite Kerr’s resistance, Paddy Heaney soon added another free to Ardoyne’s tally.

A rare foray forward saw Conor Matthews claim a second point for Larne, but it did nothing to disrupt what became a period of total, unadulterated dominance from Ciceam Ard Eoin. Micheál McGreevy and Dan Moore hit back-to-back points from play to keep the scoreboard ticking. Soon after, full-back Paul Baker launched a massive free deep into the corner to Cormac Barnes loitering in the corner-forward position. Barnes aggressively turned his marker, headed straight for the target, and bulged the net for Ardoyne’s opening goal.

The Northenders refused to step off the gas. Padraig McGreevy (free) and Paddy Heaney tagged on further points before a devastating second goal blew the game wide open. Paddy Heaney struck again with a point, followed in quick succession by accurate scores from Dan Moore and Padraig McGreevy.

Fiontain Lagan, working tirelessly in the engine room of the Ardoyne attack, deservedly got himself on the scoresheet with a well-taken point. Paddy Heaney then capped off his sensational half by bursting through to score a brilliant goal, before the clinical Dan Moore fired over the final point of the half to leave Larne facing an impossible mountain to climb.

Half-Time: Ciceam Ard Eoin 4-16 Latharna Óg 0-02

Larne briefly stopped the bleeding at the start of the second half when Ciaran Martin opened the scoring, but any hopes of a miraculous comeback were instantly shattered by a relentless Ardoyne vanguard. Cormac Barnes quickly extinguished any Larne momentum, finding the back of the net for his second goal of the match.

The afternoon truly belonged to Paddy Heaney, who turned the second half into a personal masterclass. He beautifully sliced through the heart of the Larne defence to fire home another goal, before following his green flag by raising two successive white flags from play. Padraig McGreevy kept his composure to punish another Larne foul, converting a free over the black spot.

With the historic promotion firmly in hand, Ardoyne introduced Kevin Holland from the bench. He rolled back the years instantly, striking a beautiful, vintage point from play to the delight of the home support. There was still time for Heaney to cap off an historic individual performance. He struck two more points from play before blasting home his third goal of the match, comfortably completing a phenomenal hat-trick.

Larne fought to the final whistle, with Ryan O’Donnell striking over his fifth point of the afternoon. However, the champions had the final word. Midfielder Dean Goodall and attacker Dan Moore capped off powerful personal displays by clipping over two final points from play to seal a truly unforgettable championship and promotion victory.

While the plaudits will go the outfield players and those who got their names on the scoreboard, no one contributed more to this historic season for Ciceam Ard Eoin than goalkeeper, Connor O’Neill who, despite recovering from a horrific car crash, went through this season conceding only four goals. True testimony to the spirt of the men from Ardoyne!

Ciceam Ard Eoin: Connor O’Neill, Aran Stewart, Paul Baker, Emmet Corry, Paschal Clarke, Dean Goodall (0-02), Caolan Wallace, Dan Moore(0-05), Paddy Heaney (3-07), Padraig McGreevy(0-05,2f) Matt McKillen(1-00), Cormac Barnes(2-00), Micheál McGreevy(1-01), Fintan Lagan(0-01), Kevin Holland,(0-01) Cahal Keown, Sean Searle, Pól Stanton, Enda Slattery, Stephen Hill

Latharna Óg: Dara Kerr, Mark Robinson, Barry Petticrew, Gary Bergin, Patrick Sherry, Ryan O’Donnell(0-03,2f), Brian Rogan, Kieran Mulvenna, Ryan Millar, Darren Martin, Tom Clarkin, Matthew Magill, Ciaran Martin(0-01), Conor Sheridan, Conor Matthews(0-01)

Referee: Chris Brown

TO VIEW BRIAN MC KEE’S ALBUM FROM THE GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

https://myalbum.com/album/chpkbCiTwZNf74

ACHL Division 4

All Saints 5-15 St Gall’s Seconds 2-4

All Saints produced a dominant display to secure a victory over St Gall’s Seconds and keep the pressure on league leaders, Ardoyne but in the end it was not enough as the Kickham’s secured the title with a win away to Latharna Og Larne on the same day. Their pace and movement caused the visitors problems throughout the first half, helping them build a commanding 4-11 to 0-4 lead by the interval. Cormac Magill at full forward finished with an impressive 4-5, while Luke Mulholland and Cormac Lemon around midfield also turned in excellent performances.

Dan Kelly added 1-2, with Eoin McGuigan contributing four points. With the game well under control, All Saints used the second half to empty their bench and give valuable game time to the substitutes. St Gall’s grabbed two late goals to add some gloss to the score line. The only disappointment for All Saints was the number of wides, as they could have extended their winning margin even further.

Despite this excellent win it is Kickham’s, Ardoyne who take the title and will be playing their hurling in division 3 next season.

All Saints Ronan McAllister, Kevin Brady, Dan Gray, Aodhan Casey, Finn Connon, Niall Savage, Luke Mulholland, Luke O’Rawe (0-1), Cormac Lemon, Eoin McGuigan (0-4), Dan Kelly (1-2), Michael Connolly (0-1), Jack Magill (0-2), Cormac Magill (4-5), Archie McGreevy Subs David McGettigan, Fintan Brady, Luke Walsh, Dan McCoy, Sean O’Rawe

ACHL Division 2

Cloney Gaels 4-16 St. Gall’s 4-16

With the division 2 title already heading to Ballycran, this meeting of 5^th and 6^th in the table was more about the bragging rights and preparation for the Intermediate Championship but Cloney Gaels and St. Gall’s never the less served up an exciting game of hurling.

Only a point separated the sides at half time with St. Gall’s leading 2-11 to 3-7 as the teams headed to the dressing rooms with both sides playing their part in some excellent passages of attacking play.

Dan O’Neill fired to the St. Gall’s net to give Cloney Gaels an early lead with Ethan Walsh finding the Cloney net in the 5^th minute as play swung from end to end.

Fionnbar O’Neill, Dan O’Neill, PJ O’Connell, Ronan Graham and Fionnbar again brought the home sides total to 1-5 by the 11^th minute With Gregory McGreevey responding with a couple of fine efforts for the Milltown Row side.

Cloney Gaels were enjoying the better of the exchanges at this point and PJ O’Connell increased their lead when he fired home their second goal in the 13^th minute with St. Gall’s responding with a flurry of points from Gregory McGreevey before a long range effort from their keeper found its way to the Ahoghill net.

PJ O’Connell replied immediately with his second goal of the game at the other end but it was St. Gall’s who dominated the closing exchanges as Aaron Mackle, Niall Fallon 0-2, Ethan Walsh and Mark Napier all added points to leave them leading by the minimum at the break.

Three quick points at the start of the second half from Fionnbar O’Neill, Donal Graham and Owen Neeson saw Cloney Gaels move two ahead but thee converted frees in reply from Niall Fallon had the visitors back in front again by the 9^th minute.

It was end to end stuff as the game continued at a fast pace with Dan O’Neill for Cloney pointing before Mark Napier got through for the visitors third goal to see them hit the front once more.

Fionnbar O’Neill and Ronan Graham replied with points for the hosts as the game continued at break neck pace but St. Gall’s looked to have secured the points when Segdae MacAdhaimh fired home their fourth goal of the afternoon with 12 minutes remaining.

The Gaels looked in trouble despite points from Ronan Graham 0-2 and Bernard Graham in response to two from Daniel Churchill and Niall Fallon when they trailed by three as the game crept into time added on.

They showed their never-say-die attitude however and were rewarded when Diarmaid Graham fished to the net in the 34^th minute to give them a share of the spoils, much to the delight of the Cloney faithful.

Another exciting hour-plus hurling in Ahoghill following last week’s late winning goal against Creggan and while the league title is out of sight for both sides both Cloney Gaels and St. Gall’s can be happy with their form as we edge closer to the championship.